Paper

This past Tuesday was my first wedding anniversary. I’ve been trying all week to figure out what to write about it, but how do you sum up a relationship in a few words?

The traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper. Paper is fragile. It is easy to crumple up or tear. It doesn’t last long. But paper combined with ink leads to communication and knowledge and learning and remembering. Treaties and alliances and constitutions were all written on paper. My wedding vows are written on paper.

You have taught me that two people joined together with respect, trust, and open communication can be far stronger and happier than each could ever be alone. You are the strength I didn’t know I needed and the joy I didn’t know I lacked. Today I choose to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you for who you are and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient and to remember that
all things between us are rooted in love. I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely for as long as I shall live.

My marriage is still so new. In many ways it is fragile and breakable. But I look forward to learning more about my husband, to communicating through our differences, and to remembering all the wonderful times we have had together.